If you have just purchased an older home, chances are that over the years, someone may have painted in a way that left the home with windows that no longer open. If you have found a few of these windows, you may be able to fix them yourself so you can put them back in working order. Here are some instructions that can help you get windows that have been painted shut, open once again.

Assessment From the Inside

Take a look at the interior of your window first. You will need a utility knife and a putty knife to do the repair work needed to open windows. Make sure that the sash cord works before starting the project. This is the piece of string that is located to the right of the interior window. If it is missing or doesn't feel like it has tension when you pull it, you may need to hire a professional window repair service to help you get your window open. If the sash cord seems intact, you can continue with trying to unseal the window from the paint job.

Breaking Through Paint From the Inside

Use your utility knife to make a cut on each side of the window frame between the sash and the window stops. Push your putty knife blade in the crevice you have just created and shimmy it back and forth along the cut to free the sash from the side. Make another cut along the top of the window pane between the areas where the top and bottom sash meet. Unlock the sash before you do this procedure and use your putty knife once again to loosen the bond between the wooden pieces. Make one more cut between the bottom glass panel sash and the windowsill. Use your putty knife to loosen.

Breaking Through Paint From the Outside

Move to the exterior of your home to free the window from the other side. Use your utility knife to make a cut next to the sash on each side of the window between the sash and the piece of trim keeping the window in place. Use your putty knife to loosen the window from the trim, breaking up the paint that may have gotten embedding in between them in the process.

Use your utility knife along the bottom of the top sash and follow-up with the putty knife. Lastly, use your knife to make a cut between the sash and the window sill and use your putty knife to complete the break. Go back into the home and try to open the window. For more information, visit http://www.unitedglassaurora.com.